4 Easy Ways to Start Saving Today

Saving money is something we all need to do. Get on the fast-track to savings success with these four simple steps.

It’s never too late to start saving. Whether your emergency fund is looking for a little love or you have your heart set on saving for a summer vacation, we’ll help you get more money in the bank.

4 ways to start saving:

Rome Wasn’t Built In a Day. And the Same Goes for Your Savings Account

Start small, socking away 1 to 2 percent of your income, and build up the percentage over time. And use windfalls — like tax returns and bonuses — to take your savings even further. Seeing the amount you’ve saved grow over time will help you stay motivated (or, at least, it helps me!).

Fight the Urge to Make Impulse Buys

We all do it: 95 percent of millennials admitted to making impulse buys in the past, according to a 2017 survey by Creditcards.com (side note: really, other 5 percent?). Whether they happen at the mall or the grocery store, impulse buys make up a huge percentage of unnecessary spending. Keep online shopping to a minimum, as difficult as that can be.

Pay Yourself First

We mean it this time. Treat your savings like they’re nonnegotiable — just like the water bill. When you get your paycheck, immediately pay yourself by moving part of that cash into savings. When you factor savings into your budget, rather than leaving it as an afterthought, it gets done.

Put Your Savings to Work

You’ve amassed some cash, but what is it doing for you? Make sure you’re saving in a high-yield savings or MMA account. Or compare CD yields for your time horizon — you can expect to earn more than 1.5 percent in this interest rate environment.

These quick steps are a great start to building a solid savings cushion. Get started with these, and you’re well on your way to that savings goal.